Overview & Reviews

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" That's the opening line of "Mercedes-Benz," a song most famously recorded by singer Janis Joplin in the early 1970s. The tune gently poked fun at materialism and our desire for the finer things in life. It's fitting that the renowned German marque figures prominently in the lyric. Mercedes-Benz has long been known for crafting vehicles that emphasize luxury and refinement. For many, its vehicles are sleek symbols of status, success and good taste.

In January of 1886, Karl Benz unveiled the world's first automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle dubbed the Benz Patent Motor Car. A few months later, Gottlieb Daimler and his chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach rolled out a four-wheeled vehicle powered by his Daimler engine. The first Mercedes was crafted in 1901, shortly after Daimler's death. Built by Maybach, the car was commissioned by Emil Jellinek, one of Daimler's primary distributors, and was ultimately named after Jellinek's daughter, Mercedes.

In 1926, the companies founded by Daimler and Benz merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and the Mercedes-Benz brand was born. The company's insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed in a laurel; the star was dreamed up by Daimler years earlier, and its three points signified the fact that his engines were used in vehicles that traveled land, air and sea.

Right from the start, the Mercedes-Benz name was synonymous with automotive excellence. One of the automaker's earliest vehicles, the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 170, distinguished itself as the world's first production car to offer a technology that was nothing short of extraordinary for the day: four-wheel independent suspension. The '30s and '40s saw Mercedes establishing itself as the brand of choice for car buyers seeking the ultimate in luxury, thanks to coveted cruisers like the 380 and 540K.

The 1950s witnessed the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing," a sports car that has been described as being the world's first supercar. With its dramatic styling and race-bred technology, the 300 SL reigns today as a classic coveted by collectors worldwide. The decade also saw Daimler-Benz making strides in the area of safety technology. The company's Mercedes-Benz 220 sedans were the first vehicles to incorporate its patented "crumple zone" body design, created to absorb impact in the event of a crash.

In 1963, the company cemented its reputation as the home of automotive luxury with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 600. The elegant, luxurious sedan was also available as a limousine and featured an ahead-of-its-time air suspension system and a V8 engine that boasted 300 horsepower. The decade also saw the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. This full-size sedan went from zero to 60 in under seven seconds, distinguishing itself as the quickest luxury car is its day.

The 1970s saw the birth of the brand's storied S-Class line of vehicles, opulent sedans and coupes that coddled passengers with powerful engines and a long list of luxury features. The decade also saw Mercedes continuing on the cutting edge of safety technology, by being the first to offer antilock brakes in its vehicles.

Daimler-Benz's safety advancements continued in the 1980s. Its cars were the first to offer airbags and traction control. The manufacturer also raised the bar in terms of ride comfort and handling when it introduced multilink rear suspension. The technology debuted on the compact Mercedes-Benz 190 E, and it remains a vital component of the company's chassis engineering to this day.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles got an extra dose of power and performance in the 1990s, thanks to the manufacturer's partnership with AMG, a performance and tuning shop that was eventually purchased by the company to help produce ultra-high-performance versions of some of its vehicles. The first AMG model offered in the U.S. was the sporty C36 AMG in 1995; since then, Mercedes has gone on to offer an AMG-tuned version of almost all of its vehicles.

The company's current lineup is the most comprehensive in its history. With a variety of sedans, coupes, SUVs and roadsters filling Mercedes showrooms, it seems like the only thing missing is a pickup truck. Surely, the fact that Janis Joplin's song holds as much relevance today as it did four decades ago is a strong indicator that the brand's premier status is still very much intact.

User Reviews:

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  Disappointed - 2001 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By DB - September 13 - 4:50 am

  I leased my first M-class in 2001 enjoyed it very much. End of lease purchased a 2001 M-class. Currently I have 85,000 on this M class with a easy care 100,000 mile warranty. Good thing, fuel pump (towed), gas/air mixture filter, sun roof air vents, electric window control, ESP and anti lock brakes. These were all covered by a warranty with a $100 deductible each time. Normal maintenance expensive. Oil changes $200 - $300. Rotors and pads for all four wheels $1,200, plugs and wires $800. I am thinking of trading it..

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  An amazing ride, an amazing vehicle! - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Ken - September 13 - 3:30 am

  This diesel engine marvel is everything others have said about it: quiet, clean, LOTS of torque, and great gas mileage! Driving the car home from Texas I drove from Amarillo, TX to Holbrook, AZ on less than a tank of gas. I then drove from Snowflake, AZ to Salt Lake at 75-80 mph via Flagstaff (625 miles) with fuel left over for a few days of driving around town. Climbing mountain grades and passing other cars was effortless. The ride and handling were amazing. This is my first Mercedes and first diesel powered sedan. Given my experiences so far, Im not going back to a gas powered car. It has the navigation system, which is nice, but easily outdone by my iPhone. It also has the Harmon Kardon audio system which is great. While its almost 10 years old now, you wouldnt know it by how it handles. Later: Ive had the car for 8 months now. In that time its had a few rather expensive repairs. Ive had to have the o-rings in the oil-cooler replaced, the turbocharger has been replaced and there was an issue with the valve-body controller of the transmission. None of these have been cheap. I was fortunate I could swap out the turbocharger when I had the engine torn apart to replace the o-rings. I winced at paying $2000 to replace a $10 o-ring. But that said. I still consider myself money ahead on the vehicle. In real world driving Ive gotten as much as 40mpg on one leg of a trip and average about 30-31 mpg between commuting to work and driving around town. The body and interior are so nice, people are surprised to learn its a 2007. Would I buy this car again? Probably. Will I drive anything other than a Mercedes? No way! When I ride in other cars, I can tell the difference, both in noise levels and ride quality. Its superior to any Japanese or American-made vehicle.

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  Not impressed - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By ML320 Owner - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I trusted the quality of Mercedes-Benz, but this vehicle did not meet my expectation. In the past several months, I had a few issues with its brakes, power windows, and transmission. The ride is fine. I did not notice this much when I purchased the vehicle, but the automaker went cheep by using many components made by plasctic. For the price I paid, I couldve found a better-built vehicle in other brands. Just like any other comsumer products, you would be paying premeum for the name, not the quality you should get.

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  Extremely Happy - 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
  By Armando - September 11 - 3:06 pm

  I purchased the SL500 from the original with 35k miles. I had a 1998 911 Porsche which I regret selling until I purchased this 2004 SL500. Reasons why: the hard top, the comfort, the sound system, and the look! I would not buy a new one, because of the minor changes, plus the money that I save. Its A great car to buy used because they are very reliable and lots of fun to drive. If you do buy an SL500 get an extended warranty because they become costly as they grow old!

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  THE GLK 350 MYTH- EDITH - 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
  By EDITH - September 11 - 9:07 am

  This is a great car until you become familiar with it. It has looks,style and attractiveness,but the pros generally stop there. None of the controls are intuitive. The voice commands only control the nav system. My 2014 Honda Accord Touring could make calls,turn on the air, ch ange the temperature and several other things. This car is luxury in name only,because it has the Mercedes name tag. In my personal opinion, the cost to value ratio is about 75%. I would not buy this vehicle again

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  Amazingly great car - 2004 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By musicman24 - September 9 - 6:20 pm

  I bought this car a few months ago and love it. This car gets awsome gas mileage at 23 mpg city-33 mpg hwy and is very comfortable to sit in on long trips, not to mention it turns a lot of heads.

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  Great SUV - 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
  By nycdriver - September 9 - 6:40 am

  I picked up my GL450 in June 2008 and it drives terrific. Smooth, quiet, and comfortable ride. Its really quite incredible. Feels solid but not overly large. Now for the cons - terrible fuel mileage (averaging 11 mpg in NYC), its a big truck so the drive isnt as sporty as my BMW SUVs.

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  Smoothest gasoline engine of all time - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Hirnbeiss - September 7 - 10:00 am

  At 143000, this car has had no more reliability issues than other cars. The ride is still unsurpassed by new cars. Good luxury feeling. These cars are great for the technically minded - theres plenty of info on internet websites. If you cant do a lot yourself, though, many simple maintenance/repair items will cost you. Repairs since 100K: ignition lock, neutral safety switch, water pump

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  Power and performance - 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By fsezer - September 7 - 10:00 am

  I made the right choice, buying CLK500 instead of CLK320. I ordered the car without test driving one, but it turned out to be just fine! This is a fun car to drive. Excellent road handilng and engine power!

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  Enjoyment - 2003 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By Nole - September 7 - 10:00 am

  After having driving a Chev Suburban for serveral years, the ML-350 is an excellent choice. All the comforts and extras. Fuel economy could be better but it still outshines the Suburban.